Safety device foe elevators



(No Model.) 4 SheetsSheet 1.

l P. M. BELL.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS. No. 604,361. Patented May 24, 1898.

fiiatl.

IN VENTOH Fran/la MBell W/T/VESSES a ATTORNEY.

n4: Nonms rsnzns omfnmuflmu. WASHINGTON, o. c.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2. F. M. BELL.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

No. 604,361. Patented May 24, 1898.

m: mums PETERS 00.. wuvouma, wAsnmcn'on, n. q.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

v F, M. BEL-L. SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

No. 604,361. Patented May 24,1898.

' altz,

WITNESSES //v VENTOH 171 I Flu/m M3066 d e B y A TTOHNE).

' "m: NORRIS Pawn: r3. w

(No Model-.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4. F. M. BELL. SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS. No. 604,361. Patented May 24,1898.

m/ VENZ'OR 1 9mm]: Mfiell lEE V. F.

llllll/l/llwlll/z/rd 79/27/14111Arill/1177111111111 mzyonms ptrzns cc, PHOTO-Lift!!! mswmmu, o. a

85 Qua WITNESSES FRANK M. BELL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

PATENT OFFIC ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO WILLMA POLLAOK, OF SAME PLACE.

SAFETY DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 604,361, dated May 24, 1898. Application filed December 3, 1897. Serial No. 660.568. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK M. BELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at thecity of New York, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Devices for Elevators, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to improvements in hoisting apparatus, and more particularly to that class wherein the car is provided with clutch mechanism for arresting the movement thereof when the car becomes uncontrollable when traveling in either direction; and said invention has for its object to provide a simple and reliable apparatus operable from the car,whereby the hoisting-engine may be thrown out of operation and the clutches carried by the car projected beyond the outline thereof when the customary controlling means become inoperative.

The objects above set forth I am enabled to accomplish by means of my invention, which consists in the novel details of construction and in the combination, connection, and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more fully set forth, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, wherein like numerals indicate like parts, Figure 1 is a front view of an elevator-shaft and car with my invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the car-bottom, showing the grip and clutch mechanism carrie'd'thereby. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a front View of one of the tripping devices arranged within the shaft, and Fig. 6

is a section taken on the line 6 6 of said lastmentioned figure. Fig. 6 is an'enlarged detail view, partly in section, showing the method of securing the tripping devices to their cable. Figs. 7 and S are sections taken on the line 7 7 of Fig. 3, respectively showing the grip mechanism out of engagement and in engagement with its cable; and Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view showing an elevator-shaft, a car adapted to work therein, and means for operating the same with myinvention applied thereto.

In said drawings, 10 denotes the shaft, provided with the customary guides 11, having racks 12 arranged upon their inner opposing faces. 13 denotes the car adapted to work within said shaft, and 14 the several floors of the building.

Adjacent to the base of the shaft 10 is arranged the means for operating the car, which comprises a. hydraulic elevator-engine of the multiple-sheave pattern, consisting of a horizontally-supported cylinder 10*, provided at one end with suitable bearings, in which is mounted a shaft carrying a plurality of sheaves 11 and at the opposite end of said cylinder 10 is provided a platform 1%..

Within said cylinder 10 works a piston having a rod 15, provided at its outer end with a cross-head carrying rollers 14 upon its ends, adapted to ride upon the edges of the platform 12 .15" denotes a plurality of sheaves carried by said cross-head, which sheaves correspond in size with the sheaves 11 at the opposite end of the cylinder, and 16 denotes the hoisting-cable, having one end secured to the cylinder 1O and its other end passed across the cylinder 1O and over the sheaves ll and 15 and thence upward over pulleys 17 provided at the top of the shaft 10, and its other end secured to the top of the car 13.

18 denotes a valve arranged at the base of the shaft 10, having a projecting stem and a sheave 19* for raising and lowering the same, the operating fluid being received by the pipe 33 and conducted into the cylinder 1O by a pipe 20 and discharged from said cylinder 10 by the pipe 20 and the pipe 21 22 denotes an endless cable passing through the car 13 and over a sheave 23 at the top of the shaft 10 and the sheave 19 of the valve 18 At intervals upon the rear wall of the elevator-shaft are arranged tripping devices 15 for operating the clutch mechanism, said devices each comprising a base-plate 16, adapted to be bolted to the wall of the shaft; a bail 17 having its ends secured to the base-plate 16 and provided at its front portion with an opening 18 abifurcated bearing 19, arranged upon the base-plate 16, within which bearing 19 is pivotally supported a bell-crank 20, having an eye 21 projecting from the end of its vertical member and an externally-threaded tapering split thimble 29 secured therein, a bolt 22, adapted to work within the opening 18 of the bail, and 23 denotes a link connecting the rear end of the bolt 22 with the end of the horizontal member of the bell-crank and serves to hold the bolt 22, when projected, locked against the inward pressure of the clutch-shoe carried by the car, which is adapted to contact therewith.

Arranged upon the rear wall of the elevatorshaft 10, near the top thereof and projecting outward therefrom, is a short shaft 24, having a roller 25 mounted upon its outer end, over which passes a cable 26, one end of which extends downwardly through the thimbles 29 of the bell-cranks 20 and is provided at its lower end with a weight 27 and its other or upper end is provided with a counterweight 28, and 29 denotes nuts secured to the threaded ends of the thimbles 29*, whereby the ends of the vertical members of the bell-cranks 20 are secured to the cable 26. Also upon the rear wall of the elevator-shaft 10 is arranged the means for operating the cut-out mechanism comprising the short shafts 30, having pulleys 31 mounted upon the ends thereof, over which passes an endless cable 32, which extends through the grip mechanism carried by the car, and upon said rear Wall near the base of the shaft is further provided the cut-out mechanism for controlling the supply of energy or power to the hoisting mechanism and is shown in the form of a pipe 33, connecting the source of water-supply with the hoistin g-engine, having a valve 34 arranged therein, the stem 35 of which is provided with an arm 36, extending through the same, having a short projecting portion 37 at the rear thereof.

38 denotes a weight arranged upon the end ofthe arm 36,and 39 a spring-actuated catch arranged in said arm 36 near the valve-stem 35.

4O denotes a bell-crank pivotally supported upon the rear wall of the shaft above the valve 34, having the end of its horizontal member secured to the endless cable 32 and the end of its vertical member provided with a toe 41, against the under side of which the portion 37 of the valve-stem arm is adapted to rest to hold the valve 34 open, and 42 denotes bearings arranged upon the rear wall of the shaft, having a rod 43 supported in the ends thereof, upon which is the means for holding the valve open and supporting the cated portion 54 secured to the under side of the car-bottom and provided with apertures 55 a guide 56 arranged within said bifurcated portion near the middle thereof,

and a rod 57 working within said guide 56 having an eye 47 at its outer end in line with the apertures 55 of the bifurcated portion 54 Adjacent to the inner or rear end of the rod 57 upon the under side of the car, are

provided bearings 59 and 60 within which are pivotally supported bell-crank levers 61 and 62 and an arm 63 the lower or free end of which arm is connected with the horizontal portion of the bell-crank 62 by a rod 64 and the short member of the bell-crank 61 connected with the rear end of the rod 57 by a link 65 and 66 and 67 denote springs having their forward ends secured to the lower end of the bell-crank 61 and the end of the rod 64 whereby to hold the grip in engagement with its cable when the pressure upon the forward end of the lever 48 is relaxed.

48 denotes a lever pivotally supported on the under side of the car in a depending hearing 68 said lever having its rear end in contact with and bearing upon the rod 64 connecting the arm 63 and bell-crank 02 and its other end projecting forward.

69 denotes a bushing countersunk in the floor of the car, and 70 a stem extending through said bushing, provided at its upper end with a foot-plate 49 and having its lower end in contact with and bearing upon the forward end of the lever 48, as shown, described, and claimed by me in another application filed November 22, 1897, Serial No. 659,358, which said application, in addition hereto, shows, describes, and claims the general subject-matter of this application, with the exception of the clutches 54 and the mechanism to project the same to arrest the movement of the car, which are herein shown, described, and claimed. Also arranged upon the under side of said car is the clutch mechanism comprising bearings 50, within which are supported rods 51, having clutches 54 at their ends, conical heads 55 at their inner opposing ends, collars 52 intermediate the bearings, and springs 53 disposed upon said rods 51 intermediate the collars 52 and the bearings 50.

Arranged at right angles to the bearings 50 are bearings 56, whereby the clutch-holding mechanism is supported, comprising a rod 57, adapted to work within said bearings 56 and projecting partly beyond the car, a double detent 58, adapted to engage the heads 55 of the rods 51, a spring 59, disposed upon the rod 57 intermediate the bearing 56, supporting its inner end and the double detent 58, a shoe 60, carried upon the projecting end of the rod 57, and a stop 61, arranged upon the inner end of said rod 57 to limit the outward movement thereof.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: It is to'be observed that the elevatoroperator is under ordinary circumstances required to be in position upon the foot-plate 49 on the car in order to maintain the grip 47 released of its engagement with the cable 32. However, as soon as he discovers that the ordinary means for controlling the car hecomeinoperative he should at once remove his weight from the foot-plate 49, and thereby cause the grip 47 to engage the cable 32, release the portion 37 of the valve-stem arm 36, cause the weight 38 to drop, and close the valve 34. Simultaneously herewith the vertical end of the bell-crank 45 will be released of its engagement with the catch 39 of the valve-stem arm 36, the weight 27 caused to be released and drop and operate the trip- HIS ping device 15, arranged in the shaft to project the bolts 22 thereof and hold the same locked to their projected positions. Thereupon as soon as the shoe 60, carried uponthe car, comes into contact with the first tripping device in its path the shoe will be forced in,- ward, the double detent 58 released of its engagement with the heads 55 of the clutchrods, and the clutches 54 projected by the action of the springs 53- into engagement with the racks 12 in the shaft, and arrest all further movement of the car. To reset the apparatus, it simply becomes necessary to again adjust the bell-crank 40, raise the valve-stem arm 36 to open the valve 34, and lock the portion 37 of the arm 36 against the toe 41 of the bell-crank 40, hang the weight 27 upon the rearWardly-projecting portion 44 of the bellcrank 45, and lock the end of its vertical member 46 against the catch 39 of the arm 36. As soon as this has beenacoomplishedthe counterweight 28 on the cable 26 will withdraw all the bolts 22 of the tripping devices 15. Finally, the clutches 54, carried by the car, are again forced inward until the heads 55 upon the inner ends of the rods 51 are engaged by the double detent 58 of the rod 57.

It is to be observed that the invention herein shown and described is applicable to hoisting apparatus of divers character, whether operated by steam, Water, or electricity, and that the clutch mechanism carried by the car and the racks arranged upon the sides of the shaft may be Varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a shaft, racks arranged therein, a car adapted to work within said shaft, means for operating said car, and clutch mechanism carried by said car, with means operable from the car whereby to render inoperative from the car the means for operating said car, and project the clutch mechanism into engagement with the racks, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of a shaft, racks arranged therein, a car adapted to Work within said shaft, means for operating said car, and clutch mechanism carried by said car, with cut-out mechanism interposed between the source of power and the means for operating the car, and means operable from the car whereby to operate the cut-out mechanism to devices arranged within theshaftadapted to engage the clutch-holding means on the car, and means operable from the car whereby to operate the cut-out mechanism to shut off the power, and operate the devices arranged within the shaft to trip the clutch-holding means, and project the clutches beyond the outline of the car and into engagement with the racks, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of a shaft, racks arranged therein, a car adapted to work within said shaft, means for operating said ,car,

clutches carried thereby, and means arranged partly within and partly without the outline of the car adapted to hold the clutches normally within the outline of the car,with cutout mechanism interposed between the source of power and the means for operating the car, a series of tripping devices arranged within the shaft normally out of the path of the projecting portion of the clutch-holding means carried by the car and means'operablefrom the car whereby to operate the cut-out mechanism to shut off the power, and the trip 7 mechanism to be projected into the path of the clutch-holding means to trip the same, and project the clutches into engagement with the racks, substantially as specified.

5. The combination of a shaft, racks arranged therein, a car adapted to work within said shaft, means for operating said car, bearings arranged upon said car, rods supported therein, clutches disposed upon the outer ends thereof and heads upon the inner opposing ends thereof, springs for projecting .said clutches outwardly,bearin gs arranged at right angles to those aforesaid, a rod supported therein, a double detent arranged thereon adapted to engage the inner opposing ends of the clutch-rods, a shoe carried upon the end of said rod beyond the outline of the car, with cut-out mechanism interposed between the source of power and the means for operating the car, a series of tripping devices arranged within the shaft normally out of the path of the shoe carried by the car, and means operable from the 'car whereby to operate the cutout mechanism to shut ofi the power, and project the tripping devices into the path of the shoe aforesaid to release the clutches. and cause the same to be projected into engagement with the racks, substantially as specified.

6. The combination of a shaft, racks ar vclutch mechanism carried by said car, means arranged partly within and partly without the outline of the car adapted to hold the clutches normally drawn back with a series of tripping devices arranged within the shaft normally out of the path of the clutch-holding means carried by the car, a cable secured to said tripping devices provided at its lower end with a weight, and at its upper end-with a counterweight,cutout mechanism interposed betweenthe source of power and the means for operating the car, means for holding said cut-out mechanism in position to permit of the passage of the operating fluid therethrough, and support the weight at the lower end of the cable aforesaid, and means operable from the car whereby to release the aforesaid holding means and cause the cut-out mechanism to shut off the power, and release the weight to operate the tripping devices to trip the clutch-holding means carried by the car, substantially as specified.

7. The shaft, racks arranged therein, a car adapted to work within said shaft, means for operating said car, clutch mechanism carried by said car, means arranged partly within and partly without the outline of the car adapted to hold the clutches normally drawn back combined with a series of tripping devices, each comprising a bolt, normally out of the path of the clutch-holding means carried by the car, a bell-crank for projecting said bolt, a link intermediate the rear end of the bolt and the bell-crank adapted to hold the bolt to its projected position, a cable secured to the bell-cranks of said tripping devices having a weight at its lower end, and a counterweight at its upper end, and cut-out mechanism interposed between the source of power and the means for operating the car, means for holding said cut-out mechanism in position to permit of the passage of the operating fluid therethrough, and support the weight at the end of the cable aforesaid, and means carried by the car adapted to release the holding means aforesaid and cause the cut-out mechanism to shut off the power, and release the weight to operate the tripping devices, substantially as specified.

8. The shaft, racks arranged therein, a car adapted to work within said shaft, means for operating said car, grip mechanism carried by said-car, clutch mechanism likewise carried by said car, means for holding said clutches drawn back, tripping devices arranged within the shaft adapted to release the clutchholding means, a cable for operating said tripping devices having a weight at its lower end, and a counterweight at its upper end, combined with an endless cable extending through the shaft, adapted to be engaged by the grip mechanism carried by the car, a valve having a stem, an arm secured thereto extending beyond the valve-stem at the rear thereof, a weight arranged upon the outer end of said arm, a spring-actuated catch arranged in said arm intermediate its weighted end and the valve-stem, a bell-crank pivotally supported above said valve having the end of its horizontal member secured to the endless cable and the end of its vertical member provided with a toe adapted to contact with the end of the arm projecting at the rear of the valvestem, a bell-crank pivotally supported at right angles to the one above named, the horizontal member of which is adapted to receive and support the weight on the cable for operating the tripping devices, and its vertical member adapted to lock against the spring-actuated catch in the valve-stem arm, substantially as specified.

Signed at the city of New York,in the county and State of New York, this 1st day of December, 1897.

, FRANK M. BELL.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM L. PoLLooK, GUSTAVE DIETERIOH. 

